5 MUST SEE, DO

» SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUMS

The reopening of the expanded San Francisco Museum of Modern Art made the city a must for international modern art lovers. Other don’t-miss museums with major exhibits are the de Young, the Legion of Honor, the Exploratorium and the Contemporary Jewish Museum.

› sftravel.com

» EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS

Marin County is San Francisco’s backyard, with Mount Tamalpais and the Marin coast a playground for hikers, bikers and anyone who enjoys the outdoors. Mount Tam affords stunning views and redwood forests while the oceanfront towns of Stinson Beach and Bolinas have a laid-back vibe that is part of their charm.

› visitmarin.org

» EAST BAY EXPLORATION

The university town of Berkeley offers much to discover, including the UC Berkeley campus and a revitalized downtown with the new Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. The outdoors beckons at 2,000-acre Tilden Park, which has a lovely botanical garden and steam train that children adore.

› visitberkeley.com

» SONOMA SOJOURN

Sonoma County’s vineyard-covered landscape offers dozens of wine tasting rooms, including in the Russian River appellation. Stroll among the shops of Sebastopol, Graton and Forestville and pick up picnic goodies for alfresco dining while sampling the county’s famous pinot noirs and other varietals.

› sonomacounty.com

» SILICON VALLEY AND MORE

Explore a major Silicon Valley hub, the college town of Palo Alto and Stanford University, before heading into the Santa Cruz Mountains for a drive along Skyline Boulevard and its redwood forests. Take Highway 92 to Half Moon Bay and drive Highway 1 along San Mateo County’s spectacular rugged coast, stopping to stroll along the beaches.

› smccvb.com